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happypervert -> The Hell Of The North (4/6/2005 11:05:19 AM)
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That is the "affectionate" nickname for Paris-Roubaix, also known as the Queen of the classic bicycle races. Cycling commentator Phil Liggett has said "It's a viciously cruel sport", and this is the most vicious one day race. 150 miles of virtually flat terrain would not normally be considered a very difficult race; however, it becomes torture when 30 miles of it are cobblestone paths that have been the foundation of this race for over 100 years. Add in bad weather as is forecasted for this weekend and you might imagine what it's like from looking at this pic.
As unpleasant as that pic looks, it doesn't show how their handlebars can bounce on the cobbles as if the riders were working jackhammers.
In the US the race will be covered by OLN (the Outdoor Life Network) this Sunday 4/10 starting at 5 PM EDT; I expect they'll show just the last 2 hours of it as they did with last week's race even though the schedule on their website lists 1.5 hours of coverage.
Don't tune in hoping to see Lance Armstrong; his goal is the Tour de France and they don't want to risk having him get injured here. However, some teammates of his to watch include Roger Hammond who finished 3rd last year, George Hincapie who has two 4th place and two 6th place finishes, and Viatcheslav Ekimov who finished 3rd 2 years ago and is probably the oldest guy in the race. These are "big motor" guys who are likely to be seen again in July on the Tour de France team.
No need here to list other favorites; that's what the comentators get paid for. The strongest will emerge and others are eliminated by tactics, crashes, flat tires at critical moments, energy being sapped by cold wet weather or just being beaten into submission by the cobbles. It's the sort of spectacle some folks around here should enjoy.
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